Otaru Getting there & around

Getting there & away

Otaru is just 30 minutes from Sapporo by kaisoku train or 50 minutes away by futsū; fares for both cost ¥620. Special airport kaisoku trains run via Sapporo to New Chitose Airport (¥1740, 75 minutes). Occasional local trains run south to Niseko (¥1410, two hours).

Buses run frequently to Sapporo (¥590, one hour), and less often to Niseko (¥1600, 1¾ hours, three daily).

Ferries run daily between Otaru and Maizuru (from ¥9600, 20 hours), just north of Kyoto, and almost daily to Niigata (¥6200, 18 hours). To get to the Shin-Nihonkai ferry terminal (22-6191), take bus 10 from in front of the station (¥200, 30 minutes). Tourist-loop buses also stop at the port a couple of times a day.